Comments on Armless But Not Harmless: on being a mom and still being "Rachel"...

Rachel!The offer is open to have some playdates fo...

2008-06-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

Rachel!
The offer is open to have some playdates for sure. Dan and I live on the MAXline but I haven't been brave enough to take James on it by myself, maybe it's time. Our little guy is a little over 6 1/2 months now and I think he could use some friends too. :o)

Rachel, looks like I'm not the only one commenting...

2008-06-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

Rachel, looks like I'm not the only one commenting here on how not alone you are in these feelings! I hope each of these comments is an encouragement to you. I'm never sure why hearing that my woes are also someone else's woes is encouraging--but it is to me!!! So yeah, I feel the same way nearly every day as well. A couple months ago I decided to be a morning person, for the first time in my life, and started getting up at 6:30 to run and read the Word before anyone else got up. It has been great! But I sprained my foot 2 weeks ago and haven't gotten up early those 2 weeks--and I'm back to the slump of depressing mornings and dreading my husband leaving for work. It is so hard to keep my eyes on Jesus when all I want to do is roll back over and hear no more crying! Anyway, I could go on and on. But I won't. I'll find another way to message you...

I will pray for you.
Blessings,
Jenna Clem

I love you.

2008-06-10T02:03:00.000-07:00

I love you.

Rach,Thanks for telling...Thanks for saying so muc...

2008-06-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

Rach,

Thanks for telling...

Thanks for saying so much of what I think a lot of women are also feeling, but not saying...

I wish we were neighbors! So badly...which is why I can't wait for you guys to come down in a few weeks. I can't wait to sit together and chat and just be...and maybe discover a little of who we are, together...

Love you friend!
Sar

I feel the saaaaaaaaaaame way--especially about th...

2008-06-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

I feel the saaaaaaaaaaame way--especially about the morning. I used to love mornings, and be the one frolicking around and teasing the more-sluggish Jeremy. Now I feel like I could sleep in all day, and when I do get up, have to struggle just to figure out how to make coffee. I too lament the time I used to spend on my bedroom floor in the dark, listening to music alone. I don't know why I even resent or lament the loss of such things--I don't think my life was much better before I was a wife, a mother--I think I just fear that I am disappearing sometimes.

Hi, Rachel! I haven't read your blog for awhile si...

2008-06-07T22:43:00.000-07:00

Hi, Rachel! I haven't read your blog for awhile since it's been crazy with the new baby but I happened to stop by tonight and saw your recent entry. I just wanted to say that I have SO been there. It's hard navigating motherhood and I find that there are so many new challenges coming my way constantly. The hardest thing for me was being 20 when I had my first baby and none of my friends were having kids. I felt, like you described, very lonely. I have an awesome, supportive husband & I would feel ungrateful & ashamed of how I felt but I wanted girlfriends who were going through the same things. You will eventually find that things work themselves out and these early days become a blur. I don't think about the nights when my first was new that I cried in Brandons arms asking him WHY did we do this? I just look at my almost 4 year old (WOW!) and remember how amazing he is and how far I've come as a mom. There are still lots of hard days but I find that they roll off my back more easily than they used to. I think as mothers we take so much on ourselves & the realization that we're in charge of these little blessings that God has entrusted to us can be overwhelming. (When my kids are driving me nuts I still have to say "children are a blessing. children are a blessing. chidren are a blessing." haha) I try to remember the quote "The days are long but the years are short" when it comes to raising kids and it's sooo true! Sorry this is disjointed but it'slate and I'm sleepy. The baby wants to nurse so I better run and brush my teeth before she starts screaming and wakes up the other two!! :) I just wanted you to know that I know how you're feeling & if you ever want to talk I'm here!

-Darcy

Rachel,This blog is why I love who you are and why...

2008-06-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

Rachel,
This blog is why I love who you are and why I cherish our friendship. I feel like you pulled the words out of my mouth! Life is tough especially with being a wife, mother, etc. I have been married going on nine years, and have two kids and still most of my mornings start off the way you described here, but man there are those moments of bliss when our little family is at the park and Chris is pushing the tire swing into a spinning tizzy and the smiles and giggles that come from the kids just touches our hearts and gives us a since of rightness and joy that is lasting to help us through those times of frustration and exhaustion. Funny things is, with William being in school and Briana being more self reliant and not so needy; things started to feel strange and quiet. So, what did we do, got a little puppy and now there is chaos everyday. Now I am rethinking what in the world I was thinking! Anyway, this was a really long comment but I guess maybe we should get together, cause I just knew we had a ton in common!

I miss you girl, hang in there! Instead of frisbee, maybe take up swings ;)